Discovery and management of network printers

Abstract

Managing a plurality of network devices on a network, including detecting an address assignment message sent from an address server over the network to a network device, the address assignment message containing an assigned address corresponding to the network device, sending an information request message, in response to the detection of the address assignment message, over the network from the network management device to the network device, the information request message containing the assigned address corresponding to the network device, receiving information, in response to the information request message, from the network device, and creating an entry corresponding to the network device in a device management directory, the entry containing the assigned address corresponding to the network device and the information received from the network device.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The invention concerns a network appliance for automatic detection and management of network devices connected to the network appliance. Specifically, the invention detects a network device by listening for an IP address request from the network device, and then obtaining configuration information and capabilities of the network device by using the IP address provided to the network device. The network appliance provides a common focal point for the network administrator to configure and manage all network devices detected by the network appliance.[0003]2. Incorporation by Reference[0004]U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 664,531, entitled “Object-Based Architecture For Supporting Network Devices,” filed Sep. 18, 2000, is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth in full herein.[0005]3. Description of the Related Art[0006]The administration of network devices, such as network printers, in a network environment is...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]The present invention addresses the foregoing problems by providing a management tool for managing a plurality of network devices, such as network printers, copiers and other devices, on a network in an efficient fashion. In particular, the initial network configuration of a network device is automatically managed by the present invention because the presence of each new network device on the network is automatically detected. Upon the detection of a new network device, discovery is conducted to obtain configuration information and capabilities information regarding the detected network device. Upon completion of such discovery, the present invention enables the functional support for the network device, such as creation and management of a print queue corresponding to a printing device, and other functional support for the network device. In addition, the network management device of the present invention allows for a plurality of network devices to be connected to the network management device over a local network, while only the network management device is connected to the main network, thereby isolating the network devices from all other devices on the main network and requiring the other devices on the main network to go through the network management device to access the functional services and capabilities of the plurality of network devices. Lastly, the network management device of the present invention provides support for a user interface for network administration of all network devices being managed by the network management device, and by all other network management devices on the main network.

[0014]Preferably, the network device is a network printer, although other network devices are supported by the invention. In addition, the network management device utilizes the initial DHCP address request from the network device to initiate discovery of the network device. Furthermore, a predetermined set of MAC address ranges can be set to limit the network devices that are processed for discovery by the present invention. In this manner, a network administrator can limit the present invention to discover only network devices of a certain type. The present invention also preferably allows for a plurality of such network management devices for distribution across a large, complex network in order to detect and manage all network devices throughout the network. In such an embodiment, the plurality of network devices managed by each network management device are preferably connected to each respective network management device by a local network and are not visible to all other servers, workstations and other devices on the main network. In addition, in a multiple network management device environment, the detection and management of all network devices on the network is performed in a coordinated fashion between the multiple network management devices to avoid unnecessary redundancy and network confusion, and to balance the functional support for all network devices among the multiple network management devices based on resource availability and location of each network management device.

[0016]Preferably, the address request message is a DHCP address request. The present invention also preferably allows for a plurality of such network management devices for distribution across a large, complex network in order to detect and manage all network printers throughout the network. In such an embodiment, the set of network printers managed by each network management device are preferably connected to the respective network management device by a local network and are not visible to all other servers, workstations and other devices on the main network. In addition, in a multiple network management device environment, the detection and management of all network printers on the network is performed in a coordinated fashion between the multiple network management devices to avoid unnecessary redundancy and network confusion, and to balance the functional support for all network printers among the multiple network management devices based on resource availability and location of each network management device.

Problems solved by technology

The administration of network devices, such as network printers, in a network environment is typically a tedious and time consuming task for network managers.

In particular, for large and complex network environments having several local servers, there may be a large number of printers distributed throughout the network.

In a large enterprise, such as a large, physically distributed company with large numbers of printers, the foregoing system administrative tasks related to network printers can be overwhelming.

In addition to the network administration tasks associated with the printers, other network problems can arise in relation to the printers.

For example, a large number of printers on the network can generate a significant amount of network traffic between the print servers and the printers.

Such large amounts of network traffic can detract from the other communication between workstations, servers, and other network devices.

Furthermore, a large number of printers in a network environment can consume a large number of corresponding IP addresses which may limit the total number of IP addresses available on the network for other devices.

Such an action would be in violation of user policy and could be a security breach if a sensitive document is printed to a printer at an unsecured location.

However, such network management tools often require that the network printers have special software to simulate a plug-and-play functionality for detection and configuration of the printers.

As mentioned above, this additional network traffic is undesirable and can cause network congestion.

Lastly, known network management tools are not believed to be extendable to provide additional printer support functionality as needed in accordance with a particular network environment.

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